EcoLur
NGOs and Garni community residents have sent a complaint letter to the World Bank in connection with Qaghtsrashen Gravity Irrigation Project against the actions taken by 'Water Industry PIU' state institution.
The society is expressing its anger as the 'Water Industry PIU' had drawn up the minutes of the public discussions, which had started an hour and a half earlier than the announced time and was conducted within the narrow frames of the project beneficiaries. At the same time, the PIU didn't take minutes of the other discussion, which started at the time they announced earlier, 11:00 am on 22 January, where all other beneficiaries were present, including the press.
The author of the letter-complaint is journalist Sara Petrosyan, which is also a resident of Garni community affected by Qaghtsrashen community.
In her interveiw with EcoLur Sara Petrosyan said, “The water is so little now that the brooklets have dried out: there is no water in the Goght River. In that case, what’s the sense of this program? The water will be taken in irrigation season, when there is no water left. Full-water year can happen once 4-5 years. Is there any sense to take out a loan, if the external debt of the country exceeds US $ 5 billion. In recent years the water of the Azat River has significantly reduced, and, in fact, they can’t take water from the Azat Reservoir with gravity method, the water has reduced, so even piping water won’t be a solution.”
The whole purpose of the program is to supply water to the villages in summer season. The measurements showed their expectations can’t be substantiated. The water amount – 950 l/s, they can take in July, August and September, 350-400 l/s water is left in the season.
Reminder: the World Bank provides US $ 10 million loan for Qaghtsrashen program, which is designed for the construction of a pipeline, which will transfer the water of the Azat River to those areas of Ararat Region, a part of which is owned by Armenian PM Hovik Abrahamyan’s family.
February 09, 2016 at 17:21